Solestial
Solestial designs and manufactures ultrathin, radiation-hardened silicon heterojunction solar cells and flexible modules for spacecraft, serving satellite manufacturers, defense agencies, and orbital infrastructure developers with self-healing technology at 90% lower cost than legacy III-V cells.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersTempe, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Solestial does
Solestial, founded in 2013 at Arizona State University (originally as Regher Solar, rebranded in 2022) and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, designs and manufactures ultrathin, radiation-hardened silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells and flexible solar power modules engineered specifically for space applications. The company's defining technical differentiator is a self-healing silicon solar cell that cures radiation-induced damage at operating temperatures as low as 65°C — a capability independently validated in orbit by the French CEA after one year in LEO — and which is enabled by ultrathin (60-micron) cells produced from commercially available silicon wafers. The product portfolio spans bare solar cells, flexible polymer-packaged modules with 508 g/m² total mass rated for up to 10 years in space, integrated rigid-panel and flexible-blanket module configurations, and complete deployable solar arrays delivered through deployment-system partnerships (Atomic-6, DCUBED, MMA, Opterus).
The business operates a hardware-sales model with quote-based, mission-specific pricing and multi-year contracts. Revenue is generated from sales of solar cells, modules, and complete arrays to commercial spacecraft manufacturers (EnduroSat, Atomos Space, Boeing, SpinLaunch, Lynk, Katalyst) and to U.S. government and defense customers (SpaceWERX, AFRL, NASA, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command, NSF) via SBIR/STTR contracts and direct sales, supplemented by a dedicated government sales function. Manufacturing is anchored by a 30,000 sq ft Tempe facility with a target capacity of 1 MW per year — roughly equivalent to the combined annual output of all U.S. and EU III-V space solar cell makers — and approximately 95% of the supply chain is U.S.-based, a structural advantage given Chinese dominance of gallium (98%+), germanium (60%+), and polysilicon (93%) used in legacy III-V cells.
In May 2025, Solestial closed a $17M Series A led by AE Ventures to scale manufacturing and brought in Margo de Naray (ex-Astra Space Products & Services GM) as CEO, with co-founder Stan Herasimenka moving to CTO. In January 2026, the company acquired Meyer Burger equipment to bring wafer-to-cell processing fully in-house after Meyer Burger's insolvency; on June 4, 2026, York Space Systems (NYSE: YSS) acquired Solestial for approximately $67 million in cash and stock, with Solestial continuing to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary supplying both York and external customers. The company's flight heritage spans 11+ cumulative years across 7 spacecraft currently on orbit.
Solestial firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solestial
- Legal name
- Solestial, Inc.
- Website
- https://solestial.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Solestial designs and manufactures ultrathin, radiation-hardened silicon heterojunction solar cells and flexible modules for spacecraft, serving satellite manufacturers, defense agencies, and orbital infrastructure developers with self-healing technology at 90% lower cost than legacy III-V cells.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solestial industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Space-Grade Solar Photovoltaics
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing (334517)
- SIC
- Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film) (EUAMAHAA)
Keywords
Where Solestial is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tempe
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Solestial business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Solar Cell Sales: Sale of radiation-hardened silicon solar cells to spacecraft manufacturers and integrators. Cells are sold directly to customers for integration into their spacecraft systems.
- Flexible Solar Power Module Sales: Sale of flexible solar power modules that can be integrated with rigid or flexible substrates for various spacecraft applications.
- Integrated Solar Power Module Sales: Sale of integrated solar power modules ready to install on spacecraft, including rigid panel integration and picture frame integration options.
- Solar Array Sales: Complete solar array capabilities through partnerships with deployment system providers, including Z-folded and roll-out arrays.
- Government R&D Contracts: SBIR/STTR contracts from NASA, SpaceWERX, Air Force Research Laboratory, and other government agencies for development of space solar technology.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom solar cell and module pricing based on mission requirements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Solestial product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solestial manufactures and sells ultrathin, radiation-hardened silicon heterojunction solar cells and flexible solar power modules engineered specifically for spacecraft applications. Its proprietary self-healing cells cure radiation-induced degradation at operating temperatures as low as 65°C, and are packaged into flexible modules, integrated modules, and complete solar arrays for commercial satellite manufacturers and U.S. government/defense space programs.
Product overview
Solestial offers a portfolio of space-grade silicon photovoltaic products centered on its proprietary radiation-hardened, self-healing silicon solar cell technology. The core offering is the Solar Cell — an ultrathin, flexible silicon heterojunction cell capable of self-curing radiation damage at operating temperatures as low as 65°C. These cells are packaged into Flexible Solar Power Modules, which replace traditional cover glass with lightweight polymer films and can withstand up to 10 years in space. Integrated Solar Power Modules extend the flexible modules by pairing them with rigid or flexible substrates in Rigid Panel, Flexible Blanket, or Picture Frame configurations. The portfolio is completed by the Solar Array, which provides complete deployment-ready solar arrays through partnerships with array manufacturers. Together, these products deliver a complete wafer-to-module-to-array space solar solution at scale, with costs 90% lower than traditional III-V multijunction solar products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Solar Cell Ultrathin, flexible silicon heterojunction solar cells engineered for space; the only silicon solar cells capable of low-temperature annealing (as low as 65°C) of radiation damage under sunlight, enabling self-healing of radiation-induced degradation. Cells are produced as thin as 60 microns from commercially available silicon wafers for spacecraft manufacturers and integrators.
- Flexible Solar Power Modules Flexible, low-mass solar power modules replacing traditional cover glass and composite substrate with polymer layers. Total module mass is 508 g/m², featuring bifacial technology, UV and AO protective coatings, and proprietary cell-to-cell interconnects. Can be safely rolled into a 5 cm bend radius and designed to withstand up to 10 years in space environments.
- Integrated Solar Power Modules Flexible solar power modules integrated with rigid or flexible substrates, available in three configurations: Rigid Panel Integration (integrated into customer-furnished rigid panels), Flexible Blanket Integration (maintaining flexible properties with 5 cm bend radius), and Picture Frame Integration (perimeter frame configuration for added rigidity with reduced panel mass).
- Solar Array Complete solar array capabilities delivered through partnerships with array deployment firms. Solestial's flexible solar power modules are integrated with a wide range of solar array deployment systems, including Z-Folded and Roll Out array configurations, through collaborations with partners such as Atomic-6, DCUBED, and MMA.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% lower cost than incumbent III-V solar products
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Solestial
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Solestial technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Solestial partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- NASA Glenn Research CentersupportingSpace Act Agreement to advance performance and resilience of ultrathin silicon solar arrays. NASA provides testing in Plasma Interaction Facility and subject matter expertise on spacecraft charging mitigation.
- EnduroSatcoreSales agreement for radiation-hardened silicon solar power modules for EnduroSat's FRAME satellite launching in 2026. Includes 7 kW capacity option.
- ManufacturosupportingManufacturing software partnership to enhance production efficiency of solar products. Provides advanced tools for scaling to 1 MW and beyond with quality control and traceability.
- Meyer BurgercoreStrategic manufacturing partnership to scale production of ultra-thin silicon solar cells. Meyer Burger applies its silicon heterojunction technology to Solestial's proprietary wafers. Partnership enabled scaling to 1 MW per year capacity. Disrupted when Meyer Burger's German subsidiaries filed for insolvency in May 2025.
- Atomos SpacecoreMulti-mission sales agreement for minimum 20 kW of solar blankets for orbital transfer vehicles. Solestial provides primary power for Atomos OTVs on commercial missions.
- Atomic-6supportingPartnership to develop next-generation deployable and re-deployable solar array systems. Solestial's rollable blanket integrated with Atomic-6's composite structures.
- DCUBEDsupportingPartnership for roll-out solar arrays. DCUBED integrates Solestial's thin, flexible silicon solar cells to reduce stowage volume and weight for SmallSats.
- MMAsupportingIntegration partnership for Solestial's thin, flexible silicon solar cells enabling innovation in solar array design at lower cost.
- Opterus Research & DevelopmentsupportingCollaboration on 50 kW class solar array wing development. Opterus provides low-cost R-ROMA deployment system integrated with Solestial's ultrathin solar blankets.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Solestial competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Spectrolab: A Boeing subsidiary and the dominant U.S. supplier of III-V multijunction space solar cells with decades of flight heritage. Directly competes with Solestial in supplying radiation-hardened solar cells to satellite manufacturers and government programs.
- SolAero (Rocket Lab): Acquired by Rocket Lab in 2022, SolAero is a leading U.S. manufacturer of space-grade III-V solar cells and panels. Competes head-to-head with Solestial for satellite prime solar supply, particularly for LEO constellation customers.
- AZUR Space Solar Power: German manufacturer of III-V multijunction space solar cells, one of the largest non-U.S. space solar suppliers globally. Competes with Solestial on cost-per-watt and end-of-life performance for satellite integrators worldwide.
- Cesi: Italian space solar cell and panel manufacturer with extensive flight heritage across European and global satellite programs. A direct III-V competitor to Solestial, particularly for European institutional and commercial space missions.
- MicroLink Devices: U.S. manufacturer of lightweight, flexible solar sheets for space and aerospace applications. Competes with Solestial in the flexible, low-mass solar module category for SmallSats and portable space power.
Emerging players
- Swift Solar: U.S. startup developing lightweight perovskite and perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells for aerospace and terrestrial applications. Represents a next-generation alternative to Solestial's silicon heterojunction approach with potential advantages in specific power.
- mPower Technology: U.S. startup offering flexible, lightweight solar modules for space applications including lunar and LEO missions. Overlaps with Solestial's flexible module product line for smallsat and constellation customers.
- Ascent Solar Technologies: U.S. thin-film CIGS solar cell and module manufacturer targeting space, aerospace, and defense markets. Competes with Solestial's lightweight flexible module offering, particularly for niche smallsat and defense applications.
- Caelux: U.S. startup developing perovskite solar cell technology including tandem applications. An emerging alternative space solar architecture that could compete with Solestial on efficiency and specific power in future missions.
Broad incumbents
- Airbus Defence and Space (Solar Array Manufacturing): Airbus operates solar array manufacturing capabilities internally for its own satellite platforms and is also an investor (Airbus Ventures) in Solestial. Represents both a competitor and ecosystem partner in the European space solar supply chain.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Solestial social profiles
Digital presenceSolestial financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solestial leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Solestial funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors13 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solestial M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Solestial
What does Solestial do?
Solestial manufactures and sells ultrathin, radiation-hardened silicon heterojunction solar cells and flexible solar power modules engineered specifically for spacecraft applications. Its proprietary self-healing cells cure radiation-induced degradation at operating temperatures as low as 65°C, and are packaged into flexible modules, integrated modules, and complete solar arrays for commercial satellite manufacturers and U.S. government/defense space programs.
Is Solestial a public or private company?
Solestial is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Solestial founded?
Solestial was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Solestial based?
Solestial is headquartered in Tempe, United States, in the North America region.
How does Solestial make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Solar Cell Sales are the primary driver. The others are flexible Solar Power Module Sales, integrated Solar Power Module Sales, solar Array Sales and government R&D Contracts.
Who are Solestial's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Spectrolab, SolAero (Rocket Lab), AZUR Space Solar Power, Cesi and MicroLink Devices. Emerging players are Swift Solar, mPower Technology, Ascent Solar Technologies and Caelux. Airbus Defence and Space (Solar Array Manufacturing) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Solestial have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solestial.
What industry is Solestial in?
Solestial's product category is Space-Grade Solar Photovoltaics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAHAA, Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 3674.